# The concept of "wizardly ethics"

"Kenneth L. Bolton" (mistaken@aaln.org)
Mon, 26 Feb 1996 13:55:22 PST

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    I am one of a number of co-wizards on a small moo for use by classes at my
    school.  About a year ago, a class I was in invited an eminent media
    philosopher to discuss one of his recently published works with us on the
    MOO.  Parallel classes at other schools joined us.  Now, our sole
    intention of the discussion was to cut into and attack verbally the
    aforementioned scholar.  When one of the guests from the remote locations
    began acting up, spamming the discussion, insulting the participants,
    acting unreasonably aggresive toward others of the guests, the
    responsibility fell to me to @toad the bozo.  I had only used the command
    twice before, and both times only to get an understanding of the process.=
    =20
    I found it extremely difficult to do it.  I'm not a softy, I've been
    newted and toaded, but bouncing this person was a moral test for me.  I
    did a lot of thinking on the power we as wizards, even on a small moo,
    wield.  I took a lot of heat =D1 the toadee was the professor of one of the
    other classes and it affected my grade.  People in my class were afraid of
    MOO for a while and only began using it again after I assured them
    repeatedly that I don't make a habit of toading.  I don't think a
    regulatory code is a Good Thing(tm) because a) it may restrict the=20
    ability of the wizard to act and b) it may remove the important feelings=20
    of responsibility required of the wizard in thinking about these issues=20
    which affect her/his space.  I hope some of this makes sense.

    ken

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    mistaken@aaln.org=09=09 http://sitcom.vassar.edu/~kebolton/